Cable management apparatus and method

Abstract

An apparatus and method for cable management. The apparatus may include a cap assembly for attaching the apparatus to a work surface where a user desires to raise power and/or data connections vertically up to the work surface. The apparatus may further include a dynamic leg assembly for adjusting a height of the apparatus. Once installed, a user may raise or lower the work surface, thereby increasing or decreasing a height of the apparatus and its power and/or data connections.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cable management apparatus adapted for use with height-adjustable tables, the cable management apparatus comprising:
 a) a cap assembly, wherein the cap assembly comprises a first upper cable aperture;   b) a height-adjustable leg assembly secured to the cap assembly, the height-adjustable leg assembly comprising: (i) a telescoping portion comprising two or more telescoping leg segments defining an internal cavity; and (ii) a foot subassembly connected to the telescoping portion, wherein the foot subassembly includes a first lower cable aperture; and   c) a multi-outlet power distribution unit comprising: (i) a socket housing having a plurality of electrical sockets; and (ii) a main power cord coupled to the socket housing, wherein the main power cord has: an upper portion extending into the first upper cable aperture; a middle coiled portion positioned within the internal cavity of the height-adjustable leg assembly and configured to expand and contract in length; and a lower portion extending from the first lower cable aperture.   
     
     
         2 . The cable management apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the telescoping portion of the height-adjustable leg assembly is configured to increase or decrease a height of the cap assembly relative to the foot subassembly. 
     
     
         3 . The cable management apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the two or more telescoping segments comprise a groove configured to allow the one or more lower cable apertures to remain unobstructed by the two or more telescoping segments. 
     
     
         4 . The cable management apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cap assembly further comprises a mounting stem and a releasable mounting socket. 
     
     
         5 . The cable management apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the releasable mounting socket is configured to connectively engage the mounting stem. 
     
     
         6 . The cable management apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the mounting stem comprises a ring indentation, wherein the releasable mounting socket is configured to engage the ring indentation. 
     
     
         7 . The cable management apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the cap assembly further comprises a release catch configured to disengage the releasable mounting socket from the mounting stem. 
     
     
         8 . The cable management apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the release catch comprises a push button configured to release the mounting stem upon depressing of the push button. 
     
     
         9 . A cable management apparatus adapted for use with height-adjustable tables, the cable management apparatus comprising:
 a) a cap assembly comprising: (i) a first upper cable aperture; and (ii) one or more upper data ports;   b) a height-adjustable leg assembly secured to the cap assembly, the height-adjustable leg assembly comprising: (i) a telescoping portion comprising two or more telescoping leg segments defining an internal cavity; and (ii) a foot subassembly connected to the telescoping portion, wherein the foot subassembly includes: a first lower cable aperture; and one or more lower data ports operatively connected to the one or more upper data ports; and   c) a multi-outlet power distribution unit comprising: (i) a socket housing having a plurality of electrical sockets; and (ii) a main power cord coupled to the socket housing, wherein the main power cord has: an upper portion extending into the first upper cable aperture; a middle coiled portion positioned within the internal cavity of the height-adjustable leg assembly and configured to expand and contract in length; and a lower portion extending from the first lower cable aperture.   
     
     
         10 . The cable management apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more upper data ports are chosen from the group consisting of a USB port, a USB-C port, an Ethernet port, an HDMI port, a DVI port, and a display port, wherein the one or more lower data ports corresponds to the one or more upper data ports. 
     
     
         11 . The cable management apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the cap assembly further comprises one or more coiled data cables for operatively connecting the one or more upper data ports to the one or more lower data ports. 
     
     
         12 . The cable management apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more coiled data cables are configured to expand and contract upon lengthening and shortening of the height-adjustable leg assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The cable management apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the telescoping segments are configured to increase or decrease a height of the cap assembly relative to the one or more lower data ports. 
     
     
         14 . The cable management apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the two or more telescoping segments comprises a groove configured to allow the one or more lower data ports to remain unobstructed by the two or more telescoping segments. 
     
     
         15 . The cable management apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the cap assembly further comprises a mounting stem and a releasable mounting socket. 
     
     
         16 . The cable management apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the releasable mounting socket is configured to connectively engage the mounting stem. 
     
     
         17 . The cable management apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the mounting stem comprises a ring indentation, wherein the releasable mounting socket is configured to engage the ring indentation. 
     
     
         18 . The cable management apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the cap assembly further comprises a release catch configured to disengage the releasable mounting socket from the mounting stem. 
     
     
         19 . The cable management apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the release catch comprises a push button configured to release the mounting stem upon depressing of the push button. 
     
     
         20 . A method of managing cables, the method comprising the steps of:
 a) securing a cable management apparatus to a work surface, the cable management apparatus comprising: a cap assembly and a leg assembly; wherein the cap assembly comprises a mounting section and one or more upper cable apertures; wherein the leg assembly comprises a lower segment, two or more telescoping segments positioned between the lower segment and the cap assembly, and one or more power strip cords, wherein the lower segment includes one or more lower cable apertures, wherein the one or more power strip cords passes through the one or more upper cable apertures and the one or more lower cable apertures; and   b) adjusting a vertical height of the work surface and the cable management apparatus.